YENAGOA
The Bayelsa State government has said that it will sustain its women and youth empowerment programme through the promotion of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to expand the economy and spread prosperity in the state.
The commissioner for women and children affairs, empowerment and social development, Faith Opene, stated this while addressing the ninth batch of beneficiaries of the programme for the month of October in Yenagoa on Monday.
At the event, payment of the N200,000 grant was made to 210 beneficiaries compromising a man and a woman from each of the 105 political wards in the eight local government areas of the state.
Opene said the Governor Douye Diri-led administration decided to support SMEs operators to improve the business environment of the state.
She said the government was desirous that indigenes of the state were actively participating in the local economy through the small-scale businesses sector.
Opene, who is the chairperson of the empowerment programme, said that so far 1,890 SMEs had benefitted with a total sum of N378 million disbursed to them as grant.
The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to invest the grants in their businesses in order to meet the government’s objectives.
Opene said, “This grant is part of Senator Douye Diri’scommitment to assisting indigenous businesses to prosper.
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